Searching for new music takes time, something that seems to be in shorter and shorter supply these days for many of us. Given the sheer amount of releases that grace the internet on a daily basis, occasionally great tracks are bound to pass you by.
Crate Digging is a monthly roundup of top-tier tunes you might have missed from across the electronic music spectrum. From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.
1. The Black Dog – Let’s All Make Brutalism [Dust Science]
Sheffield trio The Black Dog channel the energy of the early bleep techno movement on “Let’s All Make Brutalism,” but they divert it into moodier, more introspective territory. Stripped-down beats, drawn-out acid squiggles, and dusty atmospherics conjure images of the city’s history as a steel manufacturing giant.
2. Sagat – The Other Left [Vlek Records]
Prepare for sonically dense, mutated techno-meets-bass-music that balances odd time signatures and gnarly sound design with thunderous, propulsive low end and grainy, corroded drums. “The Other Left” rewards careful listeners while also having enough oomph to move those who just want to dance.
3. apaull – Depths (John Selway Light Of Grey Remix) [Furnace Room Records]
Legendary New York producer John Selway turns in a dark and menacing electro rework of apaull‘s “Depths.” Razor-sharp beats cut through layers of twisted synths, grinding bass, and robotic vocals.
4. Lemna – N19 [KHIDI Digital]
Lemna helps Georgian club KHIDI launch their record label with “N19.” It’s a gritty, experimental trip that perfectly aligns with the label’s mission statement: Blending dance floor-ready techno with avant-garde explorations of sound.
5. Greenleaf – Todash [Pinecone Moonshine]
Lush, atmospheric drumfunk that incorporates Greenleaf‘s New Orleans heritage, giving the drums a jazz inflection thanks to meticulously programmed breaks that mix samples from multiple drum kits. “Todash” adds in heady, futuristic synths to create a sci-fi aesthetic that offsets the natural feel of the drums, creating a unique combination of organic and synthetic.
6. Abstract Division – Perception is Reality (DJ Nobu Remix) [Dynamic Reflection]
Following the success of 2022’s Midnight Ensemble, Abstract Division return with a selection of reinterpretations from their compatriots. DJ Nobu takes on “Perception is Reality,” creating a driving, percussive groove that centers around an ever-evolving metallic sequence and delayed stabs ping-ponging across the stereo space.
7. Jensen Interceptor – The Fontainebleau (DJ Godfather Remix) [Monotone]
Jensen Interceptor‘s “The Fontainebleau” gets a freaky electro-funk remix from DJ Godfather, which honors the original’s Miami Bass influence while injecting it with the kind of snappy drums, bouncy bass, and wonky synths for which he’s known.
8. Stroef – Toxic Waste Dump [Boomstraat 1818]
Dutch producer Stroef digs into the archives for some previously unreleased material, unearthing “Toxic Waste Dump” in all its funky, melodic glory. This classy, Detroit-influenced techno jam balances playful synth loops with rolling bass, squelchy acid sequences, and precise drums.
9. Eusebeia – Seeing The Unseen [Samurai Music]
Eusebeia is one of the most cutting-edge, forward-thinking producers in drum and bass and jungle. On “Seeing The Unseen” he turns his hand to a darker, more subtle sound palette that is perfectly at home on Samurai Music. This steady, slowly unfurling soundscape of moody synths, echoed field recordings, and cavernous low end works both in headphones and on the dance floor.
10. Client_03 – Principal Excitation Conduit [Client_03]
The enigmatic Client_03 returns with another slice of speaker-shuddering electro in the form of “Principal Excitation Conduit.” Quirky vocal samples interject between huge sub bass growls, grimy acid stabs, and precise drums, all saturated with just the right amount of distortion.
